Am I the only one who feels that we don't have a roster capable of competing for a SB this year?

I just see too many question marks on defense. I know we have a SB caliber offense, but our defense is gonna be terribad this year. I just don't see our defense being capable of getting hot and playing at the level we need it to like it did in 07 and 11 with the current talent we have on defense.

I see a weaker pass rush, having lost Osi, Tuck being a year older and washed up. I see a mediocre LB core (that's nothing new though), and a secondary that's taken a MASSIVE step backwards.

And a tool for a DC.

I just don't see it. Especially with the NFC West getting so strong, the Packers shoring up their run game and improving their defense, the Bears bolstering their OL, the Falcons improving their CBs and pass rush, the Saints being the Saints again this year.

There's just too much firepower in the NFC for me to view us as a SB contender.

It really depends on the defense to me. I think we need a 2nd pass rusher to emerge. Right now our only proven pass rusher is JPP. So there's a major question that needs an answer. Honestly we need 2 pass rushers to step up, bc we need 3 guys to bring heat in the playoffs.

I feel confident that our run defense will improve this year with the addition of Hankins and getting rid of Boley. Those 2 moves will bolster our run D.

Our secondary...good God. Webster needs a bounceback year in a major way, we need Prince to take the next step, ditto for Hosely, we need a SS to emerge.

And we need Rolle not to suck as a deep FS. Rolle is much better as a box safety and nickel CB. He's mediocre as a FS playing the post. He struggles to pick up the proper read and takes poor angles.

So my main concerns are pass rush and secondary. I'm hoping Moore steps up. But the secondary scares me.

Am I the only one who feels that we don't have a roster capable of competing for a SB this year?

I just see too many question marks on defense. I know we have a SB caliber offense, but our defense is gonna be terribad this year. I just don't see our defense being capable of getting hot and playing at the level we need it to like it did in 07 and 11 with the current talent we have on defense.

I see a weaker pass rush, having lost Osi, Tuck being a year older and washed up. I see a mediocre LB core (that's nothing new though), and a secondary that's taken a MASSIVE step backwards.

And a tool for a DC.

I just don't see it. Especially with the NFC West getting so strong, the Packers shoring up their run game and improving their defense, the Bears bolstering their OL, the Falcons improving their CBs and pass rush, the Saints being the Saints again this year.

There's just too much firepower in the NFC for me to view us as a SB contender.

That's one thing I've noticed from afar. They are going to start annually sending 2 teams to the playoffs which the NFC East used to do quite a bit. Niners and Seahawks aren't going anywhere anytime soon, the Rams are cleaning up with all the extra picks from the RGIII trade, their D-line is a beast, and they boast Lauranitis and Ogletree behind them with Janoris Jenkins at CB and have two 1st next year, and all AZ needs is a QB.

It's a much, much tougher division. It was easier to fend for a playoff spot when you knew they only had the division winner limping in with 7-8 wins and that's it. At this point wildcard spots will be hard to come by with 9 wins IMO. I also expect Saints & Bucs to compete with ATL so it'll be a dog fight in the NFC this year.

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Originally Posted by Scott Wright

I guarantee that if someone picks Cam Newton in the Top 5 they will regret it.

That's one thing I've noticed from afar. They are going to start annually sending 2 teams to the playoffs which the NFC East used to do quite a bit. Niners and Seahawks aren't going anywhere anytime soon, the Rams are cleaning up with all the extra picks from the RGIII trade, their D-line is a beast, and they boast Lauranitis and Ogletree behind them with Janoris Jenkins at CB and have two 1st next year, and all AZ needs is a QB.

It's a much, much tougher division. It was easier to fend for a playoff spot when you knew they only had the division winner limping in with 7-8 wins and that's it. At this point wildcard spots will be hard to come by with 9 wins IMO. I also expect Saints & Bucs to compete with ATL so it'll be a dog fight in the NFC this year.

Absolutely. The way the NFC is shaping up, the East is actually one of the weaker divisions. Arguably the weakest. I only see the division winner making the playoffs.

For what it's worth I think our D will be better than last year. JPP will have a big bounce back year, big Hank will help our run D be less pathetic, I actually think Tuck will have a bounceback year to, add Prince developing on the back end and our D totally has the pieces to step up in the playoffs, especially if our running game becomes a weapon to make our offense even more unstoppable.

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BK

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcheTen

JPP is a better and more productive player than Brandon Graham

Quote:

Originally Posted by abaddon41_80

Is Shaun Hill a top 10 QB? Definitely not. Is he a top 20 one? Almost certainly.

That's one thing I've noticed from afar. They are going to start annually sending 2 teams to the playoffs which the NFC East used to do quite a bit. Niners and Seahawks aren't going anywhere anytime soon, the Rams are cleaning up with all the extra picks from the RGIII trade, their D-line is a beast, and they boast Lauranitis and Ogletree behind them with Janoris Jenkins at CB and have two 1st next year, and all AZ needs is a QB.

It's a much, much tougher division. It was easier to fend for a playoff spot when you knew they only had the division winner limping in with 7-8 wins and that's it. At this point wildcard spots will be hard to come by with 9 wins IMO. I also expect Saints & Bucs to compete with ATL so it'll be a dog fight in the NFC this year.

This makes the division very important. I like the way our team is. You guys are going through a system change. Eagles have cleaned our and are brand new and Bob is hurt so that could effect things.

We have stability on both sides even though one side is like a gangrene limb. I like how this division fits for us though.

KP didn't play that many games though. I think he's a loss so don't that as a knock.

Pretty much this. I loved Kenny and he was a big part of what let our d dominate when they got on a role, but he missed a lot of games that we still did well in sometimes. If prince and Hosley step up, our run d improves and the pass rush bounces back our d can still be very good. And with a better OL and legit running game that could be enough for Eli to win us another ring.

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BK

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcheTen

JPP is a better and more productive player than Brandon Graham

Quote:

Originally Posted by abaddon41_80

Is Shaun Hill a top 10 QB? Definitely not. Is he a top 20 one? Almost certainly.

I expect him to play well though. That was year 1 in the system. With another year in the system and better DL, I expect Lbs to flow and hopefully cut down on QB time in pocket, which results in more sudden change plays.

The thing about Stevie Brown is...he actually had a bad year. Everyone sees the INT totals and assumes he had a great year.

Over half his INTs were right place right time INTs, they weren't the result of great anticipation or baiting the qb. He basically got the ball thrown right at him or it was tipped right to him.

Then when you look at the all 22 and see how many plays he screwed up, how often he was out of position, how many big plays were the result of him missing a key, etc you realize how Stevie Brown really isn't a very good Safety.

I'll be very surprised if he has another year like last year. I'm expecting Will Hill to be a better player than him.

Haha yeah, I hate when people say this but this team has such a huge range for what they could do this season. We COULD be a SB candidate if things break right: JPP dominates, Prince take it to the next level, Webster steps it up, the safety situation works out, someone steps up at LB, etc. Or we could suck. We just have way way WAY too many "ifs." Good teams don't have that many ifs going into the season.

I think we will be a good team this year. Playoffs/borderline playoffs because of the offense. It really all depends on the defense, though.

I think the key on offense this year will be David Wilson. If he steps it up we could be dynamic on offense. If not, we may be taking a step back.

The Ravens hired Spagnuolo to the position of Senior Defensive Assistant

That is the kind of role that I was hoping we could sign Spagnuolo or Lovie Smith for.

I honestly thought it was a no brainer for Spags to sign that type of deal here. That said, it still opens the door for him to come back which I know most of you want. Fewell could easily get fired if he doesn't step it up and I think Spags will look for another DC job in a year.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Wright

I guarantee that if someone picks Cam Newton in the Top 5 they will regret it.

The Ravens hired Spagnuolo to the position of Senior Defensive Assistant

That is the kind of role that I was hoping we could sign Spagnuolo or Lovie Smith for.

Me too! Ease him in and then once Fewell gets fired, promote Spags. I really hope we don't extend Fewell! I mean please don't bring him back for more years! Wasting Eli's prime with a mess on the defensive side of the ball.

The question remains do we stick with a 43 for a while, even when TC retires? Do we switch to a 34 where at least we can be more aggressive than we are now?

I feel like in a 34 we'd be more aggressive and forced to disguise our blitzes. Right now we are doing something called Show and tell, which is where ever we are showing blitzes, we are blitzing. I wish we'd mix it up with show and tell and bait and blast like we did with spags. At least mix things up with the hope to disguise our blitzes more effectively.